The Hong Kong Island skyline, with its ever-growing number of skyscrapers, speaks to ambition and money. Paris, London, even New York were centuries in the making, while Hong Kong’s towers, bright lights, and glitzy shopping emporia weren’t yet part of the urban scene when many of the young investment bankers who fuel one of the world’s leading financial centers were born. Commerce is concentrated in the glittering high-rises of Central, tucked between Victoria Harbor and forested peaks on Hong Kong Island’s north shore. While it’s easy to think all the bright lights are the sum of today’s Hong Kong, you need only walk or board a tram for the short jaunt west into Western to discover a side of Hong Kong that is more traditionally Chinese but no less high-energy. You’ll discover the real Hong Kong to the east of Central, too, in Wan Chai, Causeway Bay, and beyond. Amid the residential towers are restaurants, shopping malls, bars, convention centers, a nice smattering of museums, and—depending on fate and the horse you wager on—one of Hong Kong’s luckiest or unluckiest spots, the Happy Valley Racecourse. Kowloon sprawls across a generous swath of the Chinese mainland across Victoria Harbour from Central. Tsim Sha Tsui, at the tip of Kowloon peninsula, is packed with glitzy shops, first-rate museums, and eye-popping views of the skyline across the water. Just to the north are the teeming market streets of Mong Kok and in the dense residential neighborhoods beyond, two of Hong Kong’s most enchanting spiritual sights, Wong Tai Sin Temple and Chi Lin Nunnery. As you navigate this huge metropolis (easy to do on the excellent transportation network), keep in mind that streets are usually numbered odd on one side, even on the other. There’s no baseline for street numbers and no block-based numbering system, but street signs indicate building numbers for any given block.
A visit to the north is not complete without a trip to Halong Bay, where placid waters give way to more than 3,000 limestone karsts and wind-sculpted limestone formations that jut from foggy lagoons. Dotting the bay are tiny islands bordered by white sandy coves and hidden caves, adding to the majestic landscape of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Adding to this naturalist’s dream is the biodiversity of islets, grottos, and Cat Ba Island National Park. The bay, however, shows tourism’s impact: the clearing of mangrove forests to make way for jetties and piers, marine life threatened by game fishing, and garbage from passenger boats and fishing villages washed up on the shores.Beyond its geological uniqueness are activities like hiking, kayaking, rock climbing, or exploring one of the many floating villages where fishermen bring in their daily catch. The downside to all this allure is the large number of unlicensed boats it draws to the bay each day.Boat trips out onto the bay are the main tourism stock in trade farther north, but a more multifaceted side of the area can be experienced at Cat Ba Island. The largest island in Halong Bay, Cat Ba is very much its own entity. Its national park offers incredible biodiversity, with more than a thousand species of plants having been recorded here. Animal life is slightly thinner on the ground, but alert visitors may spy inhabitants such as the endangered golden-headed langur, wild boar, deer, civets, and several species of squirrel. Trekking through the wilderness is a highlight with a number of fascinating trails to follow.Cat Ba Island has also become a firm favorite with the adventure sports set. Indeed, along with Railay Beach in Thailand, it is recognized as one of the top spots in the region for rock climbing. Other outdoor pursuits include sailing and kayaking around the karsts. Although Halong Bay has arguably been tainted by over-exposure, Bai Tu Long Bay farther east toward China, retains all the majesty of Vietnam’s premier bucket-list natural attraction but sees a fraction of the traffic of its immediate neighbor to the west. Here, visitors will find islands of substantial size with deserted beaches and untamed jungle. Halong Bay’s 3,000 islands of dolomite and limestone cover a 1,500-square-km (580-square-mile) area, extending across the Gulf of Tonkin nearly to the Chinese border. According to legend, this breathtaking land- and seascape was formed by a giant dragon that came barreling out of the mountains toward the ocean—hence the name (Halong translates into “descent of the dragon”). Geologists are more likely to attribute the formations to sedimentary limestone that formed here between 300 and 500 million years ago, in the Paleozoic Era. Over millions of years water receded and exposed the limestone to wind, rain, and tidal erosion.Today the limestone formations are exposed to hordes of tourists—but don’t let that discourage you. Hundreds of fishing trawlers and tour boats share space on these crystal waters, yet there seems to be room for everyone. Most people use the main population center, Halong City, as a base from which to venture into the bay. Although it’s now officially one municipality, Halong City was, until 1996, two separate towns: Bai Chay is now Halong City West, where Halong Road winds its way around the coast and past the lifeless central beach; Hon Gai is the grimier Halong City East, where a coal transportation depot dominates the center of town and covers nearby roads and buildings with a sooty film. Locals still refer to the towns by their old names, but they are now inexorably lassoed together by a bridge. Boat trips through Halong Bay are the main attraction. Little of the majesty of this region can be found in the city, so head out onto the water and start exploring. Countless 10- and 30-foot fishing boats have been converted into Halong Bay’s formidable tourist-boat fleet. Hotels or travel agencies in Halong City or Hanoi can arrange boat trips for you (often they are part of organized tours from Hanoi). It is still possible to go down to the wharf and bargain yourself onto a boat for the day, but you are likely to be charged (sometimes significantly) more than you would pay for a prebooked tour, so this is not advised. Self-sufficient travelers have fallen victim to the old bait-and-switch: they’ve arranged a next-day boat tour with local fishermen, only to be told in no uncertain terms the following morning that they could not board their chosen boat, but they could take a different one for quite a bit more money. You may have no choice in the end. Usually travel agencies, however, have their tried-and-true favorites.
Da Nang is the third largest city in Vietnam with the land area of 1283 square kilometre and the population of approximately 1million people. Da Nang is growing into one of the most organized urban area, with attractive beach front villas on the one side and Han River flowing on the other. Of the few attractions that belong to the city, Museum of Cham stands out with its rich collection of Cham artefacts. For those who crave for more outdoors activities, My Khe beach is a good place to spend time, either by yourself or with your loved ones. Da Nang is in close proximity to Hue- 3 hours North and Hoi An- 30 minutes south, which makes it a perfect stop point for those who need a break from touristy areas. Hue was once the Royal Capital of Viet Nam. The city represents the outstanding demonstration of the power of the vanished Vietnamese feudal empire, including a complex of monuments, tombs and pagodas that attract tourists coming from all over the world. Hoi An has to this days well preserved its most sacred treasure, the centuries-old architecture. The town used to harbour foreign traders back in the 17-18th, and once is an important heavily-frequented trading port in Southeast Asia.
Romantically referred to by the French as the Pearl of the Orient, Ho Chi Minh City today is a super-charged city of sensory overload. Motorbikes zoom day and night along the wide boulevards, through the narrow back alleys and past vendors pushing handcarts hawking goods of all descriptions. Still called Saigon by most residents, this is Vietnam’s largest city and the engine driving the country’s current economic resurgence, but despite its frenetic pace, it’s a friendlier place than Hanoi and locals will tell you the food—simple, tasty, and incorporating many fresh herbs—is infinitely better than in the capital.This is a city full of surprises. The madness of the city’s traffic—witness the oddball things that are transported on the back of motorcycles—is countered by tranquil pagodas, peaceful parks, quirky coffee shops, and whole neighborhoods hidden down tiny alleyways, although some of these quiet spots can be difficult to track down. Life in Ho Chi Minh City is lived in public: on the back of motorcycles, on the sidewalks, and in the parks. Even when its residents are at home, they’re still on display. With many living rooms opening onto the street, grandmothers napping, babies being rocked, and food being prepared, are all in full view of passersby.Icons of the past endure in the midst of the city’s headlong rush into capitalism. The Hotel Continental, immortalized in Graham Greene’s The Quiet American, continues to stand on the corner of old Indochina’s most famous thoroughfare, the rue Catinat, known to American G.I.s during the Vietnam War as Tu Do (Freedom) Street and renamed Dong Khoi (Uprising) Street by the Communists. The city still has its ornate opera house and its old French city hall, the Hôtel de Ville. The broad colonial boulevards leading to the Saigon River and the gracious stucco villas are other remnants of the French colonial presence. Grisly reminders of the more recent past can be seen at the city’s war-related museums. Residents, however, prefer to look forward rather than back and are often perplexed by tourists’ fascination with a war that ended 40 years ago.The Chinese influence on the country is still very much in evidence in the Cholon district, the city’s Chinatown, but the modern office towers and international hotels that mark the skyline symbolize Vietnam’s fixation on the future.
Romantically referred to by the French as the Pearl of the Orient, Ho Chi Minh City today is a super-charged city of sensory overload. Motorbikes zoom day and night along the wide boulevards, through the narrow back alleys and past vendors pushing handcarts hawking goods of all descriptions. Still called Saigon by most residents, this is Vietnam’s largest city and the engine driving the country’s current economic resurgence, but despite its frenetic pace, it’s a friendlier place than Hanoi and locals will tell you the food—simple, tasty, and incorporating many fresh herbs—is infinitely better than in the capital.This is a city full of surprises. The madness of the city’s traffic—witness the oddball things that are transported on the back of motorcycles—is countered by tranquil pagodas, peaceful parks, quirky coffee shops, and whole neighborhoods hidden down tiny alleyways, although some of these quiet spots can be difficult to track down. Life in Ho Chi Minh City is lived in public: on the back of motorcycles, on the sidewalks, and in the parks. Even when its residents are at home, they’re still on display. With many living rooms opening onto the street, grandmothers napping, babies being rocked, and food being prepared, are all in full view of passersby.Icons of the past endure in the midst of the city’s headlong rush into capitalism. The Hotel Continental, immortalized in Graham Greene’s The Quiet American, continues to stand on the corner of old Indochina’s most famous thoroughfare, the rue Catinat, known to American G.I.s during the Vietnam War as Tu Do (Freedom) Street and renamed Dong Khoi (Uprising) Street by the Communists. The city still has its ornate opera house and its old French city hall, the Hôtel de Ville. The broad colonial boulevards leading to the Saigon River and the gracious stucco villas are other remnants of the French colonial presence. Grisly reminders of the more recent past can be seen at the city’s war-related museums. Residents, however, prefer to look forward rather than back and are often perplexed by tourists’ fascination with a war that ended 40 years ago.The Chinese influence on the country is still very much in evidence in the Cholon district, the city’s Chinatown, but the modern office towers and international hotels that mark the skyline symbolize Vietnam’s fixation on the future.
There are two Bangkoks, the ancient soul of Thailand with its long and fascinating history and the frantic, modern metropolis that embraces the latest trends both Eastern and Western. The two blend together remarkably well—even the most jarring juxtapositions of old and new somehow make sense. Bangkok is not only the biggest city in Thailand, but also the most mesmerizing, with some of the country’s most beautiful temples and shrines. The city’s energy is palpable, especially at night, when traffic opens up a bit, its famous markets get going, and everything seems lit up—from its proudest monuments to its seediest streets. When Ayutthaya was besieged and pillaged by the Burmese in 1766, Thonburi became Thailand’s capital. The Thais call Bangkok Krung Thep (City of Angels), and in 1782 King Rama I moved his capital here, just across the Chao Praya River. Laem Chabang is approximately 130 km (81 mi) from Bangkok.
There are two Bangkoks, the ancient soul of Thailand with its long and fascinating history and the frantic, modern metropolis that embraces the latest trends both Eastern and Western. The two blend together remarkably well—even the most jarring juxtapositions of old and new somehow make sense. Bangkok is not only the biggest city in Thailand, but also the most mesmerizing, with some of the country’s most beautiful temples and shrines. The city’s energy is palpable, especially at night, when traffic opens up a bit, its famous markets get going, and everything seems lit up—from its proudest monuments to its seediest streets. When Ayutthaya was besieged and pillaged by the Burmese in 1766, Thonburi became Thailand’s capital. The Thais call Bangkok Krung Thep (City of Angels), and in 1782 King Rama I moved his capital here, just across the Chao Praya River. Laem Chabang is approximately 130 km (81 mi) from Bangkok.
The main island of Singapore is shaped like a flattened diamond, 42 km (26 miles) east to west and 23 km (14 miles) north to south. Near the northern peak is the causeway leading to West Malaysia—Kuala Lumpur is less than four hours away by car. It is at the southern foot where you will find most of the city-state’s action, with its gleaming office towers, working docks, and futuristic “supertrees,” which are solar-powered and serve as vertical gardens. Offshore are Sentosa and over 60 smaller islands, most uninhabited, that serve as bases for oil refining or as playgrounds and beach escapes from the city. To the east is Changi International Airport, connected to the city by metro, bus, and a tree-lined parkway. Of the island’s total land area, more than half is built up, with the balance made up of parkland, farmland, plantations, swamp areas, and rain forest. Well-paved roads connect all parts of the island, and Singapore city has an excellent, and constantly expanding, public transportation system. The heart of Singapore’s history and its modern wealth are in and around the Central Business District. The area includes the skyscrapers in the Central Business District, the 19th-century Raffles Hotel, the convention centers of Marina Square, on up to the top of Ft. Canning. Although most of old Singapore has been knocked down to make way for the modern city, most colonial landmarks have been preserved in the CBD, including early-19th-century buildings designed by the Irish architect George Coleman.
Natural light streams through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Owner’s Suite, illuminating the interior of up to 1,033 square feet. The contemporary living area includes an in-suite bar for hosting cocktail hour before enjoying dinner with friends in the dining area — or alfresco on the expansive private terrace. After sunset, unwind under the stars in the terrace’s whirlpool spa and indulge in a soothing outdoor shower before heading inside to retire. The bedroom welcomes you to a sanctum of repose, complete with a custom king bed and spacious walk-in wardrobe, and the marble bath includes a modern shower, soaking tub, double vanity and in select suites, a powder room that can be accessed conveniently from the foyer.
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Spacious indoors and out, the Concierge Suite offers up to 786 square feet of interior area and a private terrace of up to 409 square feet. The bedroom includes a generous walk-in wardrobe and dressing area as well as a marble bath with a double vanity, walk-in shower, soaking tub and an enclosed powder room accessible from the foyer. Sunlight casts a warm glow through the floor-to-ceiling glass in the bedroom and living room, which both open onto the terrace so you can step out to take in the view, or enjoy an outdoor shower. The interior and outdoor spaces each feature an elegant dining area and a comfortable living area with a plush sofa, perfect for entertaining guests or enjoying a romantic evening for two.
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With spacious interiors of 883 square feet, the Residential Suite truly feels like a home upon the sea. The entire space brings the outdoors in through floor-to-ceiling glass that opens onto the 156-square-foot terrace from both the living room and bedroom. Invite friends to join you for dinner in the indoor dining area, or enjoy a romantic meal for just the two of you at the alfresco dining table. Within the private bedroom retreat, an ample walk-in wardrobe leads to the luxurious master bath with a soaking tub and shower, and the suite also features a separate powder room for guests.
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The Luminara Suite embraces the ever-changing vistas along the horizon with an expansive private terrace of 291 to 301 square feet. Sunbathe with a traveling companion on the dual chaise lounges or curl up with a bestseller on the comfortable outdoor sofa. Host friends for dinner with a seaside harbor as a backdrop when you dine alfresco on the terrace or view the tableau through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the indoor dining area. Within up to 657 square feet of interior space, the cozy bedroom retreat features a luxurious king bed, spacious closets, and a modern shower system in the bath, which may also include a separate soaking tub.
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Within the View Suite interiors of up to 689 square feet, dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows in the living area and bedroom connect you to the surrounding seascapes. Step from the bedroom onto your private terrace of up to 205 square feet, where fresh sea breezes and scenic views await. After an alfresco breakfast, prepare for your day in the spacious marble bath featuring a double vanity, modern soaking tub and separate shower. The walk-in wardrobe and dressing area in the bedroom provide ample space to ready yourself for the day’s exploration. When evening comes, invite friends to join you in the dining area of your suite, which may also include a separate powder room for your guests.
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With 560 square feet of interior luxury plus a private terrace of up to 199 square feet, the Grand Suite has all the comforts of home and then some. Host friends for dinner at the stylish dining table for four and enjoy after-dinner drinks and conversation in the spacious living area. When it’s time to retire, open the double doors onto your bedroom retreat, which includes dual walk-in wardrobes, and enjoy a relaxing soak in the marble-clad tub before drifting off in the comfort of the custom king bed. Each morning, sip an espresso on your terrace as you take in the view of the enchanting destination you’re about to explore.
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The welcoming entry corridor of the Signature Suite leads to an intimate dining area for two, where you can enjoy a delicious meal at any time of day or night. Then take in a movie from the plush sofa in the living area, or from the custom king bed in the spacious bedroom that features a second television. The bath offers the convenience of a double vanity for couples, a walk-in shower and a soaking tub, perfect for unwinding after adventures ashore. The ample 409 square feet of interior space is complemented by a private outdoor terrace of up to 151 square feet, where a comfortable lounger is equally suited to sunbathing or stargazing.
SIGNATURE SUITE
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The airy interiors of the Terrace Suite offer 294 square feet of comfort, and just beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, the namesake private terrace provides up to 108 square feet overlooking the sea. This personal oasis includes a custom king bed, an ample wardrobe and a separate sitting area for curling up with a good book. The marble bath features luxurious amenities by Diptyque Paris, a modern shower system and a double vanity — ideal when sharing the space with a companion. Wake each morning to fresh coffee from the in-suite espresso machine and conclude each day with a nightcap from the mini-bar, while a Suite Ambassador attends to your wishes in the moments in between.
TERRACE SUITE
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Spacious yet intimate, the main restaurant features an ever-changing menu of dishes inspired by the diverse regions that Luminara explores.
Elegant and modern in design, the specialty dining experience offers decadent tasting menus featuring exquisite cuisine deeply rooted in Italian traditions.
Join friends at a private enclave within Tides for an exclusive dining experience, the perfect setting for celebratory dinners and other special events.
Have a seat at the sushi bar or grab a table indoors or alfresco to savor creative interpretations of Southeast Asian cuisine.
Dine indoors or alfresco on Latin-inspired cuisine, complemented by craft beers, bold wines and an elevated tequila selection, in this elegant yet relaxed space evoking a chic beach club.
Just steps from the Main Pool, Mistral invites you to a celebration of timeless Mediterranean cuisine.
This comfortable gathering place with a library transforms from a coffee bar to a cocktail lounge with live music at night and serves ready-made treats throughout the day.
Designer apparel, jewelry and leather goods entice shoppers, as do the collaborations with local artisans showcasing their work in select ports.
Panoramic views of the sea and shore provide the perfect backdrop for relaxing, socializing and sunbathing.
Sip a fine cognac and enjoy an exceptional selection of hand-rolled cigars showcased in a state-of-the-art humidor.
Enjoy drinks and light bites with views of the sea on a spacious terrace just steps above the Marina.
Relax on a comfortable chaise, sun yourself on the pool’s tanning ledge, or cool off with a dip in the water at The Pool Deck, an inviting space at any time of day.
Luminara..Listen to the gentle lap of waves while reclining on a massage table, savoring a therapeutic spa treatment from the private terrace of one of our treatment rooms. Inspired by the destinations we visit and curated to fulfill your needs, our treatments feature the finest ESPA products to awaken the senses, refresh the body and renew the spirit. Arrive early, stay a while and drift away into relaxation aboard your oasis at sea.
The Fitness Studio is home to a health and wellness program that integrates fitness and spa with lectures and nutrition that can be customized for each guest. From personal training to sunrise yoga and mat Pilates, each voyage has opportunities to maintain a healthy lifestyle. With a selection of machines such as bikes, rowers and ellipticals as well as free weights and other equipment, guests can take their regular exercise routine onboard.
The Salon offers a variety of beauty and hair services including manicure and pedicure treatments, hair consultations, cutting, styling and blow drying. Next door at The Barber, gentlemen can enjoy a close shave or invigorating facial before heading ashore to explore the port feeling refreshed and revitalised.
An extension of the Beach House, the aft Infinity Pool features comfortable loungers and views that stretch as far as the horizon.
Ritz Kids is an educational and fun-filled programs that encourage kids to explore the world around them.